Para leer una copia de las declaraciones del alcalde, oprima aquí. Para conocer más detalles del plan, visite la página www.rva.gov/arp.

Richmond, Virginia — Hoy, durante la reunión informal del Concejo de la ciudad de Richmond, fue presentado el borrador del plan de inversiones para unos $155 millones otorgados por el gobierno federal.

El borrador incorpora las opiniones de unas dos mil personas que llenaron la encuesta, además de las perspectivas particulares de los miembros del Concejo de la ciudad, quienes compartieron las prioridades y preocupaciones principales de cada uno de sus distritos.

El alcalde llamó al plan “un plano para una mejor y más poderosa reconstrucción, a través de inversiones estratégicas, intencionales y equitativas que satisfacen la promesa de una calidad de vida que nuestros residentes quieren, necesitan y merecen”.

Los siguientes son algunos puntos llamativos del plan. Puede encontrar los detalles completos en la página www.rva.gov/arp:

Incluye $32 millones para volver a construir hogares asequibles y saludables. Esto incluye $20 millones para el Fideicomiso para Vivienda Asequible, lo que permitiría cumplir con la meta establecida en la Agenda de Equidad apoyada por el Concejo cuatro años antes de lo programado.

El plan propone la creación de un Fondo para Equidad en Salud de $5 millones, que sería administrado por el Distrito de Salud de la Ciudad de Richmond mediante un memorando de acuerdo (MOU, por sus siglas en inglés) con la ciudad. Este fondo apoyaría una respuesta continua contra el COVID-19, además de salud materno-infantil, acceso a alimentación, salud mental y del comportamiento, entre otros.

Dijo la directora de Equidad en la Salud del Distrito de Salud de la Ciudad de Richmond, Jackie Lawrence: “Sabemos que el acceso individual y familiar a la alimentación, a los servicios preventivos y de salud mental tienen un impacto enorme en su salud… hemos visto cómo esto ha ocurrido durante la pandemia, pero esto no es exclusivo del COVID-19. Una inversión financiera en servicios de salud pública que sea incluyente y que tenga en cuenta los determinantes sociales de la salud, tendrá beneficios de larga duración para la comunidad”.

Se dirigirán $2 millones hacia el cuidado infantil (guarderías, etc.) y otros $78 millones hacia los parques y centros comunitarios, para un total de $80 millones de inversión en los niños y sus familias, la cual fue señalada como la prioridad número uno de los richmondeses durante la primera ronda de participación pública. Los centros comunitarios que recibirían la inversión incluyen a los siguientes:

• T.B. Smith
• Southside
• Calhoun
• y un nuevo centro comunitario en el actual Lucks Field.

Con los fondos provistos por el plan, los centros comunitarios se convertirán en centros de oportunidades – ejes de los vecindarios, que pueden brindarles a sus residentes ayuda y acceso a asistencia y beneficios financieros y de vivienda, además de servicios para la tercera edad, acceso a la alimentación, cuidado en salud, educación para el bienestar y programación para jóvenes, así como capacitación y desarrollo de la fuerza laboral. 

El director de Parques, Recreación e Instalaciones Comunitarias, Chris Frelke, dijo acerca de esta inversión: “Esta es la más grande inversión en Parques y Recreación que se haya hecho en varias generaciones y es un acto monumental para darle prioridad a las comunidades de Richmond que han sido ignoradas con más frecuencia”.

El plan también incluye un total de $23.3 millones para planear y enfrentar los desafíos ambientales y climáticos de la ciudad, $8.5 millones de inversión en seguridad pública y $5.9 millones en apoyo financiero. Si desea conocer más detalles, visite la página www.rva.gov/arp.

Mañana lanzaremos la segunda fase de la participación en el plan propuesto, lo que incluye tanto oportunidades digitales como en persona para que el público dé su opinión.

El alcalde ha puesto la meta de aprobar el plan antes de que finalice octubre, haciendo hincapié en la necesidad de “ponernos a trabajar para continuar mejorando las vidas de nuestros residentes”.

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To view a copy of the mayor’s remarks, click here. For plan details, visit www.rva.gov/arp.

At today’s informal meeting of Richmond City Council, the draft spending plan for roughly $155 million from the federal government was presented.

The draft plan incorporates the feedback of roughly 2,000 survey respondents and the unique insights of Richmond City Council members, who shared the core priorities and concerns of each of their districts.

The mayor called the plan, “a blueprint for building back better and stronger through strategic, intentional and equitable investments that deliver on the promise of a quality of life our residents want, need and deserve.”

The following are some highlights from the plan. Full plan details can be found at www.rva.gov/arp:

It includes $32 million to build back affordable and healthy homes. This includes $20 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, meeting the goal established in the Equity Agenda and supported by City Council four years ahead of schedule.

The plan proposes the creation of a $5 million Health Equity fund, managed by the Richmond City Health District through an MOU with the city. The fund would support ongoing COVID-19 response, maternal and infant health, food access, mental and behavioral health, and more.

Says Jackie Lawrence, Director of Health Equity for the Richmond City Health District, “"We know that an individual's and a family's access to food, mental health services, and preventative services has a massive impact on their health... we've seen this play out during the pandemic, but this is not unique COVID-19. A financial investment for public health services that is inclusive of those that address the social determinants of health will have long lasting benefits to our community."

$2 million is directed toward childcare and $78 million in parks and community centers, totaling $80 million invested in children and families, residents’ top priority in the first round of public engagement. The funded community centers include:

• TB Smith Community Center
• Southside Community Center
• Calhoun Center
• A new center on the current site of Lucks Field.

With funding in the plan, the community centers will become opportunity centers - neighborhood hubs that can provide residents with assistance and access to financial and housing assistance and benefits, senior services, food access, healthcare, wellness education, youth programming and workforce development and training.

Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Chris Frelke says of the investment, “This is the largest investment in Parks and Recreation in generations and a monumental movement to prioritize Richmond’s most often overlooked communities.”

The plan also includes $23.3 million in total to plan for and address climate and environmental challenges in the city, an $8.5 million investment in public safety, and $5.9 million in economic supports. For full details, visit www.rva.gov/arp.

Tomorrow, the city will launch the second phase of our engagement on the proposed plan, which will include both digital and in-person opportunities to provide feedback.

The mayor set a goal to approve the plan before the end of October, emphasizing the need to, “get to work and continue to improve the lives of our residents.”

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Today Mayor Stoney announced that the City of Richmond will require all city employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“We take this step not only to ensure the health and safety of our employees and their families, but also to safeguard the comfort and well-being of residents, customers, visitors and the public at large,” said Mayor Stoney. “The vaccine is our greatest tool to save lives and truly beat this pandemic.”

Employees who are already vaccinated will be asked to prove their vaccination status through the Virginia Department of Health. Those who are not currently vaccinated are required to begin the vaccination process so that they are fully vaccinated by October 1.

When appropriate, medical and religious exemptions will be granted. Medical exemption requests must be signed by a licensed medical provider, and religious exemption requests must be notarized. All unvaccinated employees will be required to adhere to appropriate precautionary measures, in accordance with guidance from the Virginia Department of Health.

The policy will apply to all city employees, including those who telework. Those who do not comply will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Department of Human Resources guidelines.

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Today Mayor Stoney announced that the City of Richmond will require all city employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“We take this step not only to ensure the health and safety of our employees and their families, but also to safeguard the comfort and well-being of residents, customers, visitors and the public at large,” said Mayor Stoney. “The vaccine is our greatest tool to save lives and truly beat this pandemic.”

Employees who are already vaccinated will be asked to prove their vaccination status through the Virginia Department of Health. Those who are not currently vaccinated are required to begin the vaccination process so that they are fully vaccinated by October 1.

When appropriate, medical and religious exemptions will be granted. Medical exemption requests must be signed by a licensed medical provider, and religious exemption requests must be notarized. All unvaccinated employees will be required to adhere to appropriate precautionary measures, in accordance with guidance from the Virginia Department of Health.

The policy will apply to all city employees, including those who telework. Those who do not comply will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Department of Human Resources guidelines.

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The City of Richmond and cultural organizing nonprofit Performing Statistics have teamed up to give Richmond’s youth a space of reverence and reflection on the sides of Richmond's City Hall.

Freedom Constellations, a multimedia public art project led by artist Mark Strandquist featuring two large banners flanking the Marshall Street and 9th Street sides of City Hall, will include two Richmond Public Schools students involved with RISE for Youth (Ta’Dreama McBride and Clyde Walker) voicing a group of local youth’s vision for a future where all youth are free.

When the exhibit is installed, 160 foot tall portraits will flank City Hall. As visitors hold smartphones up to the portraits, augmented reality animation and audio will display the young leaders’ dreams for the future as they articulate the investments they say will keep the community safe, healthy, and free. They will hear the words and voices of young people in the form of a co-written poem: “In a world without youth prisons. I walk down the streets and… I hear happiness in the community, and I feel safe…”

The experience will ask visitors to imagine a world where every young person feels empowered, free, heard and hopeful, growing up surrounded by the support and love they need to thrive.

Exhibit installation will begin at the end of June. Visitors will be able to experience Freedom Constellations starting in July, with the augmented reality experience located on the corner of 9th Street and Marshall Street.

Quotes from Project Partners:

“We must build a future where every young person feels unlimited in potential and unimpeded by the burdens of systemic racism and poverty,” said Mayor Stoney. “Freedom Constellations will be a beacon shining brightly from City Hall in support of that vision.”

“Covering the sides of city hall with interactive portraits of youth fighting to make Richmond a better place is exactly the kind of monumental public art that Richmond needs in this moment,” says Mark Strandquist, lead artist for the project and creative director at Performing Statistics. “Through photography and augmented reality, Freedom Constellations elevates not singular historic voices, but a multitude of powerful and visionary youth in the city. It is deeply important that the city provide platforms for all youth to speak about their experiences, showcase their leadership, and share their dreams for a more just, whole, and free Richmond with all of us. We can never build that future if we can’t imagine it, illustrate it, design it, and youth need to be part of that process. These young leaders have given us all a huge gift; they’ve shared a beautiful blueprint for a Richmond where all youth have the support we all deserve. I hope we all use this as an opportunity to listen, learn, and find more ways to involve youth in all of our efforts to make the world and future a better place.”

“The Human Services portfolio in the City of Richmond is dedicated to facilitating the hopes and dreams that Freedom Constellations embodies,” said Reggie Gordon, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services. “Richmond’s youth provide a key voice in our conversation on building a more compassionate city, and I greatly look forward to the other conversations this monumental public art installation will inspire.”

“Being a part of something that’s bigger than myself is just extraordinary,” said Ta’Dreama McBride, a youth activist and subject of the public art installation. “I hope when you see this you’re inspired to make a change in your community – not just that, but a change in the world.”

This project was made possible by support from the City of Richmond Departments of Human Services, Social Services, Justice Services, Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities, the Richmond Police Department, Richmond Region Tourism and Venture Richmond.

To learn more about Performing Statistics, please visit https://www.performingstatistics.org. 

For a live stream of the event, visit the city’s Facebook page here. Please contact Sam Schwartzkopf of the Office of Public Information and Engagement at sam.schwartzkopf@richmondgov.com with questions about the exhibit.

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